The User-Led Accessibility Audit Tool (ULAA-Tool) has been developed by the Trinity College Dublin disAbility Service to support consistent, evidence-based accessibility audits of buildings, teaching spaces and student environments.
The tool has been designed using the principles of Universal Design, combining technical accessibility standards with the lived experience of disabled people. It enables organisations to identify barriers, prioritise improvements and monitor progress over time.
You can use the audit tool here -
Excel format - UAAT Audit Tool (Excel format)
Pdf format - UAAT Audit Tool (PDF format)
The ULAA-Tool can be used by:
- Universities and colleges
- Public sector organisations
- Architects and estates teams
- Accessibility professionals
- Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs)
- Students and staff undertaking accessibility reviews
What the tool assesses
The audit framework supports the assessment of a wide range of accessibility features, including:
- Entrances and external access
- Internal circulation and wayfinding
- Teaching and learning spaces
- Laboratories and specialist facilities
- Libraries and study areas
- Social and student spaces
- Toilets and Changing Places facilities
- Signage and information
- Lifts and stairs
- Emergency evacuation arrangements
- Sensory environment
- Universal Design features
The tool automatically collates findings into an accessible dashboard, allowing auditors to identify patterns, monitor completion and prioritise actions according to their impact.
How to use the tool
- Download the audit workbook.
- Enter the building information on the Dashboard.
- Select the relevant audit module(s) for the building or space being assessed.
- Complete each audit item by recording observations, measurements where required and compliance status.
- Add comments and recommendations for any issues identified.
- Assign a priority level to each issue to support planning and investment.
- Review the automatically generated dashboard and summary statistics.
- Save the completed audit as part of your accessibility improvement programme.
Good practice
For the most effective outcomes, accessibility audits should:
- be undertaken with disabled people and people with lived experience;
- include representatives from different impairment groups where possible;
- combine technical compliance with user experience;
- form part of a continuous programme of accessibility improvement rather than a one-off exercise.
The ULAA-Tool is intended to support organisations in moving beyond minimum compliance towards creating environments that are inclusive, welcoming and usable by everyone.